Goterra is a Canberra based ag-tech startup company building sustainable solutions to the critical global challenges of food waste and climate change. At our head office in Hume, we design and build modular infrastructure (MIB) to process food waste using insects. Our diverse and multidisciplinary team has expertise in engineering, manufacturing, software, electronics, agriculture and biology.

We are looking for a Head of Facilities to join our team based at our head office in Hume, ACT. The Head of Facilities is a senior member of the Goterra Executive Team reporting directly to the CEO, and is responsible for the leadership of the Facilities and Production functions, delivering all of the company’s waste management and insect farming capability at multiple regional locations.

KEY RESPONSIBILITIES:

The Head of Facilities owns the design, strategy and development functions of their department, working to deliver on the CEO vision for Goterra to deliver waste management technology for the world. They have strategic oversight of waste management infrastructure and services and insect production activities across all Goterra sites and are responsible for the leadership of Goterra Facilities and Production staff.

Duties include, but are not limited to:

• Develop the Strategic Plan and management of all Goterra infrastructure and facilities.
• Operational oversight of all of Goterra production and plant facilities including managing the installation and utilisation of Goterra’s modular units, insect farming, and waste management infrastructure, at Goterra and customer sites.
• Leading and managing Goterra’s Facilities and Production staff, modelling and nurturing Goterra values and building team capability to deliver on defined objectives.
• Delivery, implement, manage, and coordinate all work, health, and safety (WHS) functions, for both employees and insect farm livestock, to ensure compliance with legislation and regulations across all sites.
• Ensuring continuous updating and implementation of the WHS Training Plan in line with state and territory regulations.
• Manage the design, development, and execution of facilities required to deliver insect farming capabilities for the production of insect larvae to process food waste.
• Develop and implement systems and programs to forecast, plan, and manage the company’s waste processing and insect breeding capability in line with strategic business goals, to meet strategic growth objectives.
• Implement systems to forecast, plan, and manage the company’s waste processing and insect breeding facilities and budget, including designing and reporting on metrics and setting targets.

• Building systems and processes to increase efficiencies of waste processing and commercial insect farming practices through continuous improvement.

• Develop and implement insect production facilities and services systems to ensure targets are met with regard to waste management, output, quality, cost, time, staffing, and customer commitments.
• Working with Goterra’s manufacturing and engineering team to design and develop the facilities necessary to execute systems for the servicing and maintenance of Goterra’s plant and machinery, including modular robotic units
• Leading all projects on plant expansion and upgrades and the commissioning of new facilities, e.g. liaising with all stakeholders, oversight and management of external contractors including tender processes and supervision and coordination of work.
• Define organisational structure to consolidate, streamline and delineate necessary functions as necessary during the scaling and expansion of the business within the facilities and production teams.
• Focus on and participate in the national/ international regulatory framework within the Insect Field to ensure Goterra is at the forefront of technology.
• Lead and advise the Research and Development Team of processes and products to ensure Goterra remains a market leader.
• Responsible for full fiscal management of the Goterra Facilities and Production functions through management of all Capex and Opex budgets and reporting Monthly on Management accounts.
• Ensure that products and processes comply with the Feedsafe Act within the confines of Australia and manage the implementation of all other legislative compliance for the markets of final product inclusion.
• Collaborating with the Executive Team on Goterra’s strategy and vision, and setting yearly project and program goals

QUALIFICATIONS REQUIRED:

• Appropriate qualifications in Biology, Agriculture, Engineering, Project Management, or similar field, and/or at least 5 years of highly relevant work experience

ESSENTIAL SKILLS AND REQUIREMENTS:

• Proven experience in a Facilities and/or Production Management position in the Black Soldier Fly and/or Mealworms commercial insect production environment
• Proven ability to develop and lead autonomous cross-functional teams in a commercial insect facility
• Leadership experience with responsibility across full cycle of operational functions, including waste, production and product
• Proven skills and ability in developing and executing management systems, e.g lean manufacturing, HACCP, GMP, and Quality Assurance programs
• Comprehensive knowledge of issues around compliance, standards, regulation, codes of practice and the ability to interpret policies and procedures.
• Strong leadership skills and the ability to motivate staff to consistently meet and exceed expectations
• A strategic mindset and a passion for driving sustainability in the insect farming industry
• Demonstrated proven success driving operational excellence through continuous improvement
• Strong skills in communicating complex issues with a diverse range of stakeholders
• Proven product development/product management skills and experience
• Excellent communication skills with the ability to negotiate with stakeholders across a range of programs and services

You must have the right to live and work in this location to be successful in applying for this position

• The opportunity to work in a diverse and multidisciplinary startup environment with a team of people who believe in what they’re doing and are aligned in mission and purpose
• Generous pay and conditions plus learning and development opportunities
• The chance to make a real impact through exciting and ground breaking work, stopping one of the leading causes of climate change, every day. Literally, we’re doing it right now, as you read this

Goterra is committed to building an inclusive team where everyone has an opportunity to contribute to our mission. We strongly encourage people with diversity in disability, cultural background, ethnicity, age, gender identity, sexual orientation or intersex status to apply for our roles. Should you need assistance applying for this position, please contact careers@goterra.com.au